02/05/2019

Polls Open For NI Council Elections

Voters across Northern Ireland will head to the polls today, Thursday 02 May, in the local council elections.

A total of 819 candidates are standing across 11 council areas.

1,463 polling stations are currently operating, with votes being cast up until 10pm this evening.

A full list of the candidates standing in each area can be accessed on the Electoral Office website.

Council elections operate using the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) system, with voters ranking their chosen candidate by number in terms of preference. Ballots should be marked 1, 2, 3 and so on and the voter can choose as many preferences as they want.

Councillors will then be elected based on the share of the vote they receive.

Overnight verification of unused ballot papers returned from polling stations will take place overnight and councils will begin counting on Friday morning at 8am.

Voters must be at least 18 and on the electoral register in order to be eligible to have their vote case. Proof of identity is required at the polling station. The following forms are acceptable:

• The photographic part of a UK, Irish or European Economic Area (EEA) driving licence (provisional licences accepted)

• A UK, Irish or EU passport

• An Electoral Identity Card

• A Translink Senior SmartPass

• A Translink 60+ SmartPass

• A Translink War Disablement SmartPass

• A Translink Registered Blind SmartPass



(JG/CM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 May 2016
Voters Make Their Way To Polls For Assembly Election
Voters are making their way to polling stations across Northern Ireland to cast their vote in the Assembly elections. The stations are open from 7am today, 05 May, and will close at 10pm. In total 276 candidates are fighting for 108 seats in NI's 18 constituencies.
26 November 2003
Voters in Northern Ireland go to the polls
Voters were going to the polls today to elect representatives for the Northern Ireland's Legislative Assembly. Over one million people are entitled to vote in the election being held today, which has 256 candidates vying for the 108 MLA (Members of the Legislative Assembly) seats spead across the 18 constituencies.
23 May 2019
Voters Head To Polls In European Elections
It's the vote that wasn't supposed to happen, but citizens across Northern Ireland will cast their ballots today on who they wish to represent them in the European Parliament for the next term. Candidates are running across the other 27 EU member states, with a total of 751 MEPs to be elected across the bloc.
12 December 2019
Polls Open Across NI For General Election
Voters across Northern Ireland will head to the polls today to have their say on who represents them at Westminster. Some 102 candidates are standing for 18 seats in the General Election, the third poll of this year. Polling stations opened at 7am this morning, 12 December, and will close at 10pm.
16 May 2017
Over 3,400 People Turned Away From Polls In March
Over 3,400 people were turned away from polling stations on 02 March in Northern Ireland because they were not registered. Over 60,000 voters were removed from the register in December 2016 as they had not updated their details. The Electoral Commission is warning voters to check they are registered for the upcoming UK general election.